Trump Prepared to Strike Assad Again, Official Says

Aides contradict president’s ‘Mission accomplished!’ declaration

President Donald Trump answers questions from the media on March 13 before heading to California to view prototypes of his proposed Southern border wall. He said Monday the barrier would “keep the damn drugs out.” (Mark Wilson/Getty Images)

Senior administration officials said Saturday they believe the U.S.-French-British strikes, which were aimed at Assad’s chemical weapons infrastructure, hit their intended targets. But an opposition group on the ground there raised doubts as the sun rose in Syria.

Vice President Mike Pence said the operation “degraded and crippled” and “significantly eroded” the Assad government’s ability to use chemical weapons. He also defended the mission to reporters with him in Peru, saying, “This was the morally right act to take,” according to a pool report.

He also had this message for Russia, one of Assad’s key backers: “You’re on the wrong side of history.” The Kremlin needs to “live up to the commitments they made,” he said of Russia’s vow to remove Assad’s chemical arsenal.

“You’re known by the company you keep,” Pence said.

French and British leaders, who joined the U.S. in ordering Syria strikes Friday night, have assured Trump they, too, are “willing to do more militarily,” the senior official said.

What’s more, the United States and its allies have “evidence” that Assad’s forces used both chlorine and sarin gas in last weekend’s chemical attack on a rebel-held Damascus suburb, the senior administration official said.